Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 17 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Japan: Digital & Technology
How ready is a country to use, make and trade technology?
Japan is placed joint 9th of 198 countries on digital & technology in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: GovTech Maturity Index 0.905 (2025); Government AI Readiness Index 72.24 (2025).
Share
Digital & Technology
joint9th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 0.905GovTech Maturity Index, 2025GTMI score (0–1)
- 72.24Government AI Readiness Index, 2025AI readiness score (0–100)
- 1.43Government Cyber Security Capacity, 2025Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity
- 52.9Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports, 2024Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Japan on digital & technology — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
0.905
GTMI score (0–1)
Higher is better
Japan: 0.905. Across the 196 countries in this edition, values run from 0.01 (North Korea) to 0.997 (South Korea); the world median is 0.63.
- World median
- 0.63
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 0.997 South Korea
72.24
AI readiness score (0–100)
Higher is better
Ranked 14th of 195 by Oxford Insights
Japan: 72.24. Across the 195 countries in this edition, values run from 12.12 (Guinea-Bissau) to 88.36 (United States); the world median is 40.19.
- World median
- 40.19
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 76.89 South Korea
Key 3 of 4
Government Cyber Security Capacity
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
1.43
Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity
Higher is better
Japan: 1.43. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from -2.66 (Liberia) to 3.715 (Estonia); the world median is 0.196.
- World median
- 0.196
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 3.226 China
Key 4 of 4
Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
52.9
Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports)
Higher is better
Japan: 52.9. Across the 170 countries in this edition, values run from 0.377 (Gambia) to 87.15 (Ireland); the world median is 25.42.
- World median
- 25.42
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 52.9 Japan
02Over time
Which way Japan is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Government AI Readiness Index
AI readiness score (0–100) · higher is better
JapanWorld median
Japan fell from 73.3 in 2020 to 72.24 in 2025; the world median went from 39.58 to 40.19.
Every year’s figures
Year Japan World median 2025 72.2 40.2 2024 75.7 43.3 2023 75.1 41.4 2022 75.3 40.3 2021 76.2 44.1 2020 73.3 39.6 Government Cyber Security Capacity
Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity · higher is better
JapanWorld median
Japan rose from 1.422 in 2000 to 1.43 in 2025; the world median went from -0.514 to 0.196.
Every year’s figures
Year Japan World median 2025 1.43 0.20 2024 1.16 0.11 2023 1.55 0.14 2022 1.55 0.16 2021 1.55 0.12 2020 1.55 0.12 2019 1.55 0.10 2018 1.55 -0.05 2017 1.55 -0.08 2016 1.55 -0.10 2015 1.55 -0.17 2014 1.55 -0.21 2013 1.52 -0.21 2012 1.42 -0.25 2011 1.42 -0.32 2010 1.42 -0.31 2009 1.42 -0.50 2008 1.42 -0.51 2007 1.42 -0.51 2006 1.42 -0.55 2005 1.42 -0.55 2004 1.42 -0.55 2003 1.42 -0.55 2002 1.42 -0.51 2001 1.42 -0.51 2000 1.42 -0.51 Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports
Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports) · higher is better
JapanWorld median
Japan rose from 46.31 in 2010 to 52.9 in 2024; the world median went from 19.88 to 25.42.
Every year’s figures
Year Japan World median 2024 52.90 25.42 2023 57.18 26.03 2022 65.05 26.04 2021 70.21 29.80 2020 70.04 29.47 2019 55.83 18.36 2018 54.01 20.09 2017 53.27 18.32 2016 54.14 18.15 2015 51.84 19.57 2014 51.79 21.00 2013 48.19 20.50 2012 45.53 19.56 2011 49.59 19.21 2010 46.31 19.88
03In context
Japan beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 198 countries on digital & technology, never a place within the region.
Japan and Eastern Asia
Japan has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | GovTech Maturity IndexGTMI score (0–1) | Government AI Readiness IndexAI readiness score (0–100) | Government Cyber Security CapacityOriginal latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity | Digitally-Deliverable Services ExportsDigitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 South Koreacompare | =1st | 0.997 | 76.89 | 2.231 | 50.66 |
| Japan | =9th | 0.905 | 72.24 | 1.43 | 52.9 |
 Taiwan | 21st | 0.805 | 64.81 | 2.29 | 49.03 |
 Chinacompare | =23rd | 0.651 | 76.27 | 3.226 | 50.47 |
 Hong Kong | 57th | 0.652 | — | 0.816 | 45.34 |
 Mongolia | =98th | 0.776 | 40.86 | -0.04 | 13.9 |
 North Korea | 119th | 0.01 | 21.15 | 2.771 | — |
 Macau | =155th | 0.401 | — | — | 8.894 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
Placed either side on digital & technology
The countries immediately above and below Japan in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Japan is ahead of the world, and behind
18 more statistics filed under digital & technology, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median13
Statistics on which Japan does better than the middle country measured.
Government Internet ShutdownsV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.0231.9041.023▲ Improved since 2015
Japan: 1.904 · world median 1.023 · Original latent estimate (≈ −4 to +2); higher = fewer shutdowns. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.547 to 2.081; higher is better.
Position 10th of 176 · derived.
Digital Services Trade Restrictiveness IndexOECD · 2025 · world median 0.2060.0420.206▲ Improved since 2015
Japan: 0.042 · world median 0.206 · Digital STRI (0 = open, 1 = closed). OECD, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.021 to 0.649; lower is better.
Position 121st of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Frontier Technology Readiness IndexUNCTAD · 2023 · world median 0.4850.8440.485▼ Worsened since 2013
Japan: 0.844 · world median 0.485 · Frontier Technology Readiness Index (0–1). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1; higher is better.
Position 20th of 170 · derived.
ICT Goods ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 0.9757.640.975No real change since 2014
Japan: 7.64 · world median 0.975 · ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.45; higher is better.
Position 21st of 119 · derived.
Government Social Media CensorshipV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.5051.6830.505▲ Improved since 2015
Japan: 1.683 · world median 0.505 · Original latent estimate (≈ −4.5 to +2.4); higher = less censorship. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.721 to 2.295; higher is better.
Position 32nd of 176 · derived.
Firms Experiencing Internet DisruptionsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.3516.5732.35No earlier reading
Japan: 16.57 · world median 32.35 · Firms that experienced internet outages or slow-downs (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.735 to 82.39; lower is better.
Position 131st of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Share of Firms' Payments Made ElectronicallyWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 64.2290.7964.22No earlier reading
Japan: 90.79 · world median 64.22 · Payments made electronically in a typical month, excluding payroll and payments to government (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 2.172 to 99.91; higher is better.
Firms with Their Own WebsiteWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 62.3978.6862.39No earlier reading
Japan: 78.68 · world median 62.39 · Firms with their own website (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.824 to 97.88; higher is better.
Position 47th of 181 · derived.
Government Dissemination of False Information (Domestic)V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median -0.1140.962-0.114▲ Improved since 2015
Japan: 0.962 · world median -0.114 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.2); higher = less disinformation. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.392 to 2.93; higher is better.
Position 50th of 176 · derived.
AI User Share of the Working-Age PopulationMicrosoft AI Economy Institute · 2026 · world median 15.4524.715.45▲ Improved since 2025
Japan: 24.7 · world median 15.45 · Generative-AI users (% of population aged 15–64). Microsoft AI Economy Institute, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 6.1 to 73.3; higher is better.
Smartphone OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 78.7883.3378.78No earlier reading
Japan: 83.33 · world median 78.78 · Adults whose main mobile phone is a smartphone (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 8.663 to 97.36; higher is better.
Position 51st of 140 · derived.
Mobile Phone OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 91.6893.8591.68No earlier reading
Japan: 93.85 · world median 91.68 · Adults who own a mobile phone (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 45.83 to 100; higher is better.
Position 54th of 140 · derived.
Internet Use Among AdultsWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 83.0583.3483.05No earlier reading
Japan: 83.34 · world median 83.05 · Adults who used the internet in the past three months (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 11.06 to 99.12; higher is better.
Position 69th of 140 · derived.
Behind the world median1
Statistics on which Japan does worse than the middle country measured.
ICT Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 7.4744.7137.474▲ Improved since 2014
Japan: 4.713 · world median 7.474 · ICT services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 56.25; higher is better.
Position 79th of 118 · derived.
No better end4
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
GitHub RepositoriesGitHub · 2026 · world median 141,45411,846,724141,454Moved since 2020
Japan: 11,846,724 · world median 141,454 · Public repositories located in the economy (as of quarter end). GitHub, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 142 to 77,284,974.
GitHub DevelopersGitHub · 2026 · world median 84,6705,433,91284,670No real change since 2020
Japan: 5,433,912 · world median 84,670 · Developer accounts located in the economy (as of quarter end). GitHub, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 110 to 32,410,529.
GitHub Git PushesGitHub · 2025 · world median 148,7147,198,600148,714Moved since 2020
Japan: 7,198,600 · world median 148,714 · Git pushes during the quarter. GitHub, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,967 to 40,768,192.
Anthropic AI Usage IndexAnthropic · 2026 · world median 0.961.910.96No earlier reading
Japan: 1.91 · world median 0.96 · Claude usage index (1 = in proportion to working-age population). Anthropic, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 6.4.
No current reading for Japan
Made or Received a Digital Payment (last 2021), Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching and Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Digital & Technology among Japan’s 15 topics
Digital & Technology is Japan’s 5th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Work & Labour2nd of 1824/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation2nd of 1764/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture5th of 1842/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing7th of 2003/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 9th of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 10th of 1944/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge13th of 1982/4 keys
- Peace & Security12th of 1774/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital18th of 1963/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade25th of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties28th of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience55th of 1934/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality56th of 1593/3 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 116th of 1834/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability161st of 1864/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on digital & technology
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Japan can most readily be measured against.
=1
EstoniaNorthern Europe
Joint 1st of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Andrus Uuetalu derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 ee, greyscale
=1South KoreaEastern Asia
Joint 1st of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
3
SingaporeSouth-eastern Asia
3rd of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Khairul Nizam . · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
South Korea=1st4/4 keysThis page
Japan=9th4/4 keys
Positions out of 198 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Japan on digital & technology: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Japan rank on digital & technology?
Japan is placed joint 9th of 198 countries on Digital & Technology in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (GovTech Maturity Index, Government AI Readiness Index, Government Cyber Security Capacity and Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest GovTech Maturity Index figure for Japan?
0.905 in 2025 (gTMI score (0–1)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.63.
What is the latest Government AI Readiness Index figure for Japan?
72.24 in 2025 (aI readiness score (0–100)), according to Oxford Insights. The world median in the same edition was 40.19.
How have Japan’s digital & technology figures changed?
Government AI Readiness Index fell from 73.3 in 2020 to 72.24 in 2025; Government Cyber Security Capacity rose from 1.422 in 2000 to 1.43 in 2025; Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports rose from 46.31 in 2010 to 52.9 in 2024.
Which digital & technology statistics are missing for Japan?
No current reading is published for Japan on Made or Received a Digital Payment, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching and Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Broadband and mobile subscriptions, connection speeds and the cost of getting online are absent, for the licence reason above; internet use and phone ownership, from the World Bank’s own household survey, and firms’ websites and internet disruptions, from its Enterprise Surveys, are published here as context. The ICT share of goods exports votes under Mobility & Trade. Digital public services and data-protection law are not held yet. Research and development spending is filed under Education & Knowledge, and what an economy knows how to make is under Economy & Innovation.
How the Digital & Technology standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The digital & technology method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- GovTech Maturity Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Government AI Readiness Index — Oxford Insights, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Government Cyber Security Capacity — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports — UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 18 statistics on this page come from 7 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Japan’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Japan (banner) — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Estonia — Andrus Uuetalu derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0 ee
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Singapore — Khairul Nizam ., CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Japan: Digital & Technology — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/japan/digital